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I just got an email from Strikeforce containing a pre-sale password for the Strikeforce Houston event. If you find yourself in the Houston area jones’n for some Strikeforce tickets, and for some reason you are reading this NY/NJ based MMA blog, this is your lucky day.

As a “Strikeforce Insider”, you can purchase your tickets before they go on sale to the general public – An opportunity to get the best seats in the house! Plus, you’ll save $5 Off each ticket purchased! The exclusive presale opportunity for Strikeforce Houston at Toyota Center will take place today, Tuesday, July 13 at until Thursday, July 15 at 10PM/CT online at Toyotacentertix.com or by phone at 866-4-HOU-TIX.

Pro-wrestler turned MMA fighter Bobby Lashley has been signed by the Strikeforce organization and will make his debut on the January 30 card.

“I’m looking forward to fighting for STRIKEFORCE and challenging myself by taking on some of the top heavyweights in MMA,” said Lashley.

With heavyweights dropping like flies in the UFC, I am a little surprised Dana White did not scoop Lashley up first. He has a notable name from his stint in pro-wrestling, and would add some depth to the injury laden division.

K.J. Noons has signed a multi-fight agreement with Strikeforce. Let’s hope a rematch with Nick Diaz in the works. Press release below:

K.J. NOONS SIGNS WITH STRIKEFORCE

NEW YORK (Dec. 3, 2009)– Former lightweight champion K.J. Noons (6-1) has signed a multi-fight agreement with world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE and will make his long-awaited return to the cage at a date to be determined soon.

Noons’ STRIKEFORCE debut will be his first MMA start since June 14, 2008, when he reeled off his third consecutive win in the cage by demolishing Yves Edwards with a series of punches and elbows just 48 seconds into their meeting at Honolulu, Hawaii’s Neil S. Blaisdell Arena.

Following the victory over Edwards, Noons began a hiatus from MMA in order to pursue a professional boxing career. He has since been victorious in four of five appearances in the squared circle, bringing his overall boxing record to 12-2 with 6 knockouts.

“I’m super excited to be a part of STRIKEFORCE and I’m looking forward to putting on great fights,” said Noons, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Monday, Dec. 7. “I’ve always wanted to come back, but I wanted to box for a little while in order to polish my boxing skills. Now, I’m ready to jump back into the picture in MMA.”

To date, Noons’ most memorable stand in MMA was his meeting with dangerous striker and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Nick Diaz. In the first round, Noons opened a cut below Diaz’s right eyebrow with a hard knee strike to the head after Diaz shot in for a takedown and, soon after, dropped Diaz with a straight counter right hand.

After round one came to an end, the ringside doctor ordered a stoppage to the fight due to two cuts Diaz had sustained on his forehead. Noons was declared the winner of the fight by TKO.

Noons, who fights out of San Diego, Calif., also boasts a record of 13-1 with 10 KO knockouts in kickboxing competition.

“I feel a lot more confident with my game — my striking and everything else,” he said. “I feel I’m a more complete fighter and I’m ready to fight whoever STRIKEFORCE puts in front of me.”

Web programmer by day, practicing mixed martial artist at night, Larry Vollmer Jr. brings the latest news from the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the rest of the mixed martial arts world - a fast-spreading obsession on TV and online. These are the bouts - they occur in an octagon-shaped "ring" - that test men's souls.